Think back to all of the cartoons and movies you’ve ever seen, and count how many of the main characters were Black.
I can almost guarantee that you could count all of them on one hand.
It’s 2021, and there still are only a handful of popular Black children’s superheroes or princesses. Yes, there is Black Panther, Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, and Black Lightening, but there aren’t many more that exist as main characters.
Just Like Me, Inc. creates books, half-hour cartoons, and animated movies featuring characters of color that appeal to audiences around the world. Their two, star characters are Super CJ, a Black boy with super strength that saves the world from peril, and Princess Brianna, a girl who is born into royalty and whose story teaches Black children important lessons about self-image, self-esteem, and beauty. Yaba Baker, a D.C. native and Hampton University graduate said his goal is to “to fill voids in our community by producing entertaining products that let kids see themselves.”
Just Like Me, Inc, has been around for quite a while; it’s first titles were published in 1996, and focused on educating children about Black history before slavery and the contributions of Black people to fields like science, engineering, and mathematics. The initial title was “The Just Like Me Books”, and they received media attention from both local and nationally recognized media outlets such as BET, The Washington Post, and Upscale Magazine.
Check out all they have to offer on their website : www.justlikemeworld.com/ or on their IG: justlikemeworld.
Candace Green is a Birmingham, Alabama transplant by way of Washington DC. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking and eating amazing food, and Marvel movies. She is an author and blogger. You can follow her on IG: c_dog93
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